🇪🇸 Spain Isolates Israel Like Apartheid South Africa Once Was — Sports, Culture, Weapons, Even Its Skies
From canceling billion-euro arms contracts to banning Eurovision, La Vuelta, and weapons flights, Spain is reviving the same boycott and sanctions playbook that helped bring down Apartheid
Why I Need You Today
Family, the United Nations has now declared Gaza a genocide. And while the United States keeps financing that genocide with our tax dollars, one European nation is showing the world what courage looks like: Spain.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez isn’t hedging or whispering. He is calling Israel’s assault on Gaza what it is — genocide— and backing it with the same kinds of boycotts and sanctions that once helped isolate and topple apartheid South Africa.
This is what history demands. And this is why we keep telling the truth here when others stay silent. Please become a monthly, annual, or founding member today.
Spain Calls It What It Is — And the People Agree
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who I have grown a deep respect for, has said it openly: “Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image.”Ministers in his government have followed suit: “It is genocide and it has no other name.”
And here’s the truth: Sánchez is not ahead of his people — he is following them. Eighty-seven percent of Spaniards already say Gaza is a genocide. Nearly nine in ten. That is what democracy looks like when leaders actually listen.
Now compare this with the United States. Half of all Americans already say Gaza is a genocide. 77% of Democrats, nearly 90% of Bernie’s own supporters agree. But our leaders refuse. They dance around the word. They send bombs instead of sanctions.
In Spain, the people moved, and their government followed. In America, the people move, and our government turns its back.
Cultural Boycott: Sports and Eurovision
Spain’s actions mirror the global cultural boycott that helped bring down apartheid South Africa.
Sánchez has called for Israel to be excluded from international sports, just as South Africa was banned from rugby, cricket, and even the Olympics until apartheid fell.
The people of Spain have already made this real. 100,000 Spaniards took to the streets, forcing the cancellation of the final stage of La Vuelta cycling race because an Israeli team was competing. Spain’s culture minister has also called for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest. Broadcasters in Ireland and the Netherlands say they will also withdraw if Israel is included.
Family, this is not symbolic. During apartheid, no rugby team, no cricket squad, no music contest could be used to “normalize” South Africa. Today, Spain is sending the same message to Israel: you cannot commit genocide by day and play football by night.
Spain Cuts the Weapons Pipeline
The Spanish government has done something no U.S. administration has had the courage to do: cancel weapons deals with Israel.
It killed an €700 million ($825 million) contract for rocket launchers derived from Israeli design. It canceled another €287 million ($337 million) anti-tank missile deal. It is reviewing its arsenal to purge Israeli tech completely.
In the 1980s, arms embargoes strangled South Africa’s ability to sustain apartheid. Spain is reviving that exact playbook now — cutting off the weapons pipeline, not only refusing to sell but refusing to buy.
No Weapons Through Spain, Period
Spain then went further: it banned all ships and planes carrying weapons or jet fuel to Israel from using Spanish ports or airspace.
Family, that means even U.S. weapons shipments bound for Israel are blocked if they try to pass through Spanish territory. Spain has shut its skies and waters to the genocide supply chain.
And the government added a new measure: anyone directly involved in genocide in Gaza is barred from entering Spain.
This is boycott, divestment, and sanctions made real. It is exactly the kind of bold action the world once took against apartheid South Africa.
The Backlash From Israel
Just like South Africa’s leaders once smeared their critics as communists and traitors, Israel’s leaders today smear their critics as antisemitic.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called Sánchez “a disgrace.” Netanyahu accused him of making a “genocidal threat.” Israel retaliated with entry bans on Spain’s deputy prime minister and youth minister.
Sánchez’s government fired back: these measures reflect international law and the will of the Spanish people. And Spain reminded the world that it recently granted citizenship to 72,000 Sephardic Jews expelled centuries ago — proof this is not about antisemitism.
Family, the playbook of a collapsing apartheid regime never changes. Lies, smears, panic — all to distract from the truth: their crimes have been named and condemned.
The Weight of Europe
Spain is not alone, but it is loudest. In 2024, it joined Norway and Ireland in recognizing Palestine.
But Sánchez is going further than anyone else in Europe. He is not hiding behind “concerns” or “regrets.” He is leading the way, showing that when apartheid is on trial, you do not whisper — you act.
Why This Matters for Us
Family, imagine if the United States matched Spain’s courage. Imagine if Washington cut the weapons pipeline, closed our ports and airspace, banned officials complicit in genocide, and matched the will of its people.
This is exactly how apartheid South Africa was weakened: boycotts, sanctions, cultural bans, sports bans, arms embargoes. That is what Spain is doing right now. And that is what America refuses to do.
Instead, our government plays the same role it did in the 1980s — as the last major lifeline of apartheid. Then it was Pretoria. Today it is Tel Aviv.
Family, pause with me here. If you believe this truth must be shouted, please share this post right now. Do not let silence win.
Stand With Me Against Silence
Family, mainstream outlets will never frame Spain’s actions as courageous. They will parrot Israel’s lies and call it antisemitism. But here, we tell the truth: Spain is isolating Israel the same way the world once isolated apartheid South Africa — through boycott, through divestment, through sanctions, through courage.
Silence is complicity. Silence is complicity. Silence is complicity.
Love and appreciate each of you.
Your friend and brother,
Shaun
Keep Reading, Keep Fighting
Family, I need you to keep learning, keep sharing, and keep fighting with me. Here are three free pieces I wrote recently — read them, talk about them, and share them everywhere:
🚨 The UN Finally Just Said It: Gaza Is a Genocide — And Now Every Government, Every Leader, and Every Taxpayer Is Complicit
Sisters and Brothers - here is the full report. I like to always give you all the source data so you can have it for yourself. Below - I am going to do my best to unpack and explain it - and tell you why it matters.
My thoughts on the assassination of Charlie Kirk
I won’t keep saying this, but I had surgery to repair nerve damage in my right arm and hand on this past Monday and I’m just now able to begin using the fingers on my right hand. And the doctors asked me to not type much for these next few weeks.
Thank U Spain. I pray other countries follow suit. Palestinians must be afforded the rights to life and liberty.
🙏thank God for the Spaniards 💖